Testing the Water !

Many people think the shenanigans in Federal parliament are little more than an entertaining circus but it becomes very serious when it results in bad government.   On the world scene, voters seem to be turning away from the old established political parties and voting in mavericks who represent special interest groups - or sometimes just themselves.

The next Federal election is expected in late 2018 or early 2019 and already an unlikely candidate is signalling an intention to stand.   The widow of notorious gangster Carl Williams, who was executed by a fellow inmate in prison may be a candidate for the Australian People's Party.  Her husband gained fame for running a huge drug empire and for arranging the spectacular murder of many of his competitors.  It seems that Roberta Williams - his wife - participated in these criminal activities and consequently was sentenced to a six month prison term,  She was also declared bankrupt, owing $ 300,000 unpaid tax to the taxation office.

Clearly, Roberta Williams is ineligible to sit as either a representative or a Senator in either house of the Australian parliament.  Section 44 of the Australian Constitution disqualifies anyone who has been declared bankrupt, sentenced to more than twelve months in prison or is a citizen of another country from attaining those elected offices.   We are at present awaiting a ruling by the High Court to determine the fate of  several elected politicians who have found to their astonishment that laws in force in other countries have bestowed citizenship of which they claim to be unaware.

What is amazing many people is that this restriction in the Australian Constitution will not stop Roberta Williams from legally standing as a candidate.  She plans to run against Opposition leader Bill Shorten in his  seat of Maribyrnong in Melbourne's west.   Should she win, it would be a matter for a rival candidate or a member of the public to challenge her nomination in the High Court and get an injunction to stop her taking her seat in parliament.

Of course, she has to actually win the vote for that to become an issue, but in recent times we have seen some strange outcomes where the voters have made very unanticipated choices.  When Donald Trump nominated for the American presidency most people though that was hilarious and bookmakers were giving ludicrous odds on his victory.  His candidacy took on  a life of its own and he is now the resident of the oval office.

Roberta Williams is a forty-eight year old attractive woman.   The factor that she is a convicted drug trafficker and a gangland widow may have appeal to some people and if she can present a convincing stump speech she could gather a following.  There is a very evident mood of discontent with many of the voting public and they seem to be ready to think outside of conventional lines when it comes to casting their votes.

Sadly, we seem destined to become an ungovernable nation if this follows the pattern of some European countries where the parliamentary assembly has dissolved into a cacophony of squabbling minor parties who are totally incapable of achieving consensus on important issues.   We follow that path at our peril !